Ron Davies

Ron Davies, who has died aged 70, was one of the most remarkable
centre-forwards to play in English football.

His most memorable match was probably at Old Trafford in August 1969, when he scored all four goals for Southampton as they whipped Manchester United 4-1. United’s manager Matt Busby was so impressed that he declared Davies “the finest centre-forward in Europe” and tried to sign him — not for the first time. But Southampton refused Busby’s overtures.

Davies’s forte was his superiority in the air, a strength further enhanced at Southampton by the crosses of the wingers Terry Paine and John Sydenham. His timing on the header was usually impeccable, and he had the ability to adjust himself in mid-air when a cross was not perfect. He claimed that in his early days as a professional he had trained by jumping over hurdles wearing Army boots.

Davies joined the Saints in August 1966, when the club was newly promoted to the First Division, and scored 37 goals in his debut season, making him the Division’s top scorer. The following year he found the net 28 times, equal top with George Best; in 1968-69 he scored 20 more.

Ronald Tudor Davies was born at Holywell, Flintshire, on May 25 1942. As a teenager he was rejected by Blackburn Rovers , but he was soon taken on by Chester City, in the old Fourth Division. He turned professional in July 1959, and in 1960-61 scored 23 times.

In October 1962 Davies was sold to Luton Town for £10,000. Despite his best efforts (21 goals in 32 matches), the club dropped to the Third Division, and a year later he was sold on to Norwich City for £35,000. He scored 30 times in his first season at Carrow Road, and his continuing success caused Southampton to buy him for £55,000 in August 1966.

Davies’s dominance at the Dell was ended by the emerging talent of Mick Channon, who had joined Southampton as a 17 year-old in 1965. As Channon developed as a striker, new tactics were deployed, requiring Davies to play deeper. Channon became the club’s leading scorer , and in 1973 Davies joined Portsmouth. The following year he finally moved on to Manchester United, but it was too late in his career. He made only 10 appearances — all as a substitute — before leaving English football in 1975.

He had won 29 caps for Wales, scoring nine goals. During his League career, he scored 275 times in 549 matches (134 for Southampton in 240 games).

Davies played briefly in South Africa and in the United States, then coached in Orlando, Florida, before settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he lived in a mobile home and worked in the construction industry.